If you’ve been following the blog recently you know Sam, Sarah, Cate, Susan and I participated in PWA’s Friends For Life Bike Rally.
I had some assumptions about how the week would unfold that I hadn’t really unpacked before the rally. I assumed I would be riding with members of my team. The skill and pacing of each rider was so different this didn’t happen.
Instead I rode alone most days most of the time. I was pleasantly surprised at how relaxing riding alone on a supported ride could be. I found a pace that felt sustainable and kept it.
I had assumed I would get slower as the week went on. Instead I kept a steady pace and other riders got faster as the week went on.
I had assumed I was a relatively weak rider. I found out that the training rides I’d done had me well prepared for hills and wind. I rode in a headwind that others found grueling and was nonplussed. I rode in torrential downpours. I did longer distances faster than I’ve ever done.
I was surprised how busy the schedule was. Setting up and tearing down campsites each day got harder as the week went on. I didn’t sleep well, despite early bed times I’d wake up after only a few hours of sleep.
I was SUPER CRAMPY on Day 3 but otherwise being on my period was an annoyance more than an actual issue.
I had a very difficult ride on Day 5. I checked my times and I was the same speed or faster than Day 4 but I felt like I was crawling along.
But by the morning of Day 6 we were all a bit giddy. 
I made new friends.
I doubted I could do the distance. I’m so glad I tried something scary. It was an incredible experience.
